Lock for milk-cans.



Patented June 5, I900.

I L. MUNCH.

LOOK FOR MILK CANS. (Application flied Feb. e, 1900.

' (No ModaL) Jive/ Z071 Zola; Ill/(17f E55 C9 PHDYD-LITHOH WASNINQTON. D4 C.

' UNITED STATES- PATENT .Orricn.

LOUIS MUNOH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CONRAD SITTNER, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCK FOR MILK-CANS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 650,902, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed February 6, 1900. Serial No. 4,299. (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS MUNCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Looks for Milk-Cans and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful IO improvement in looks for milk-cans and the like, and has for one object to provide, first, means whereby a milk receptacle can be looked after being filled and cannot be removed until the door is opened, and, second,

I 5 means whereby the milk-can may be held at any height along the door-casin g and thereby overcome the necessity for setting the milkreceptacle upon the step and exposing it to the danger of being upset.

Another object of my invention is that the consumer can lock the milk-receptacle in the lock and thus force the milkman to fill that receptacle and not exchange it for another, thus enabling the consumer to always retain the same receptacle.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

0 In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation of the same will now be described in detail, referring to the accom- 3 5 panying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a portion of a doorway,

showing my lock in position on the door-cas-.

ing. Fig. 2 is a view showing a milk-can resting within the lock. Fig. 3 is a plan View of my lock in the position it will take when the door is closed. Fig. 4 is a view showing the interior of my lock-and the tongue about to enter the same, and Fig. 5 is a view showing how the tongue is fastened to a glass bottle.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents the lock, which is preferably formed in halves and riveted together by the rivets a. The lock is'adapted to be secured to the door-casing by screws 13, passing through holes 0 in the lock. An anglepiece D is secured to the milk-receptacle at any convenient place, and the vertical member or tongue E of the angle-piece D has formed in each side thereof the notches e. Formed in the lock-casing A is an elongated recess F, which is just large enough to receive the tongue E. WVithin the lock-casing A and secured at the point G is a spring H. Said spring terminates at its upper end in a nose I, which forms a latch. The nose or latch I by reason of the spring H always has a tendency to recede within the lock-casing, and when pressure is brought to bear against this spring it will force the latch I outward within the recess F, and thereby when the tongue E is inserted within said recess the latch I will engage the notches e and thus lock the can in place. This pressure upon the spring is accomplished by the closing of the door and through the following means: Protruding from the lock-casing A is a tubular portion J, which extends within a short distance of the door-.jamb. Sliding within said tubular portion is a plunger K, its inner end being bent at an angle and bearing against the spring at the point L. Now it isobvious that if the lock is placed in a proper position so that the end of the plunger K will protrude beyond the door-jamb when the door is open the closing of the door will force the plunger inward against the spring H and thus cause the latch I toremain within the recess as long as the door is closed, thus forming a springlatch.

A metal piece L may be secured in the door, so as to lessen the wear on the same when coming in contact with the plunger K. Alug M is formed with the lock-casing, and through this lug M is formed a hole N for the purpose of receiving the tongue E when it is desired to put out the empty can or at any time when it is not desirable to lock the said can.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the means I employ in fastening the tongue upon a glass or 5 earthenware receptacle. The angle-piece D is secured upon the band 0, which is divided at one point and riveted in anysuit-able manner at that point after the band has been placed around the neck of the receptacle.

The advantages of my invention are numerous, one of which is the providing of means whereby while the receptacle is securely locked in place,thus preventing it from being stolen, it requires no key or other means to unlock the same, it simply being necessary to lift the can out when the door is opened.

Another advantage is that, if desired, the customer can place the tongue within the locking-recess F when putting out the empty can, and thereby prevent the milkman from exchanging it for another can, thus always retaining the same receptacle, which is very desirable.

A further advantage is that the lock can be placed at any height, thus preventing the possibility of it bein upset or tampered with by animals of any sort.

As is seen, by forming notches upon each side of the tongue E this lock can be used on either the right or left side of the door-casing.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. A milk can or vessel having a tongue projecting therefrom, notches formed in said tongue, a lock adapted to be secured to the door-casing, a recess in said lock into which the tongue is inserted, a spring-catch located within said lock, and means for pressing and holding the spring-catch in engagement with said notches in the tongue while the door is closed, for the purpose specified.

2. A milk can or vessel having a tongue projecting therefrom, notches formed in said tongue, a lock-casing adapted to be secured to the door-casing, a recess formed within this lock-casing and adapted to receive said tongue, a spring-latch located within said lock-casing, a lug secured to the lock-casing, a hole formed therethrough, said hole being of sufficient size to receive the tongue, and a plunger, one end of which is adapted to bear against the spring-latch and force the same within the recess to engage the notches in the tongue when pressure is brought to bear on the other end, substantially as shown and for the purpose specified.

3. In a device of the character described, a tongue E having notches e formed therein, a portion D formed at an angle to said tongue and a divided band 0 to which said portion D is secured, and means for clamping said band around the neck of the vessel, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS MUNCH.

\Vit-nesses:

CONRAD SITTNER, H. B. HALLooK. 

